Dota 2
There is no arguing that Dota 2’s Patch 7.35b and the arrival of Frostivus are some of the biggest changes we have had in 2023. If you take a look at our overview, you will see there are tons of new things in the game.
We can go on and on about the specifics, but it’s better to read the full update so you can get a better idea of what to expect. After testing the new changes and reading everything, there are a few important things we want to talk about. Therefore, it’s time for our 4 takeaways from the Dota 2 Patch 7.35 and Frostivus.
Valve takes its behavior score seriously
If there is one thing that became clear after the arrival of the new Dota 2 patch 7.35b, it’s that Valve takes its behavior score seriously. In case you haven’t noticed already, a lot of players received permanent bans following the most recent update. Mason, the famous Dota 2 steamer, went viral after he was banned during a live stream after opening the chest. According to rumors, he admitted he was using special services to boost his behavior score, and it seems like Valve has been paying attention to him.
Valve took steps in the right direction several months ago when it unleashed the first big ban wave. The company is trying to improve the environment for players so people can have more fun while playing. Consequently, it is "at war" against smurfs, game ruiners, boosters, and more.
This is definitely going to be a long battle, but we think the most recent Frostivus update was a step in the right direction. It will be interesting to see what’s next from Valve because a lot of people expect them to implement some sort of AI detection tool to monitor players.
We will see a lot of new heroes in the meta
The Dota 2 Patch 7.35 is pretty significant when it comes down to hero and item changes. In fact, we have many new items and several significant hero changes, which means there is a new meta. The most interesting part is all of these changes took place in the middle of ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, so the best teams in the world are still trying to adapt.
When talking about the potential meta changes, many of the heroes who were good in the previous patch have received a lot of nerfs. What’s more interesting is some of the “forgotten” names in Dota 2 got several buffs. Ember Spirit, for example, received three big changes, whereas heroes like Doom and Mars got more than 5 buffs. Needless to say, we expect to see those names in action soon.
Dota 2 continues to be a complex game
The day before the Dota 2 Frostivus update arrived, Valve teased us about what was to come. According to sources on Reddit and other platforms, we expected to see some item changes. A lot of people thought that Valve would completely remove all neutral items. However, this did not happen.
While it is true that the company removed some of the neutral items, it added new ones in their place. This is good news for people who play regularly, but the bad thing is Dota 2 continues to be a very complex game.
If you are to start playing right now in the Dota 2 patch 7.35, you will have tons of things you need to learn. Since this will take a lot of time and effort, it is tough for new players to adapt unless they are really into the game. The last couple of updates haven’t changed anything in this regard because Dota 2 continues to be very complex.
The good news from the Frostivus 2023 update is Valve has taken steps towards allowing new players to better understand the game. For example, players can now see the ability icon states, minimap icons, teleporter time, tower range indicator, and more. Although those things may not sound much, they help a lot.
Valve is trying to make Dota Plus more appealing
Dota Plus is a paid server which became available some time ago. The idea behind it was to mimic DotaBuff in many ways because it provides all kinds of information. Naturally, people were really interested in it at first, but things have slowed down, and it is definitely not as big as before.
Having said that, Valve is determined to change things, and we may see a lot of additional options for Dota Plus members in 2024. The most recent changes from the Patch 7.35b include several intriguing options, such as:
- New Premium Sets - You can get three sets from the Shard Shop, each costing 150,000 shards.
- Seasonal Quest Refresh - You can increase your shard stash.
- Updated Guild Rewards - Players who are in guilds can expect to find a lot of things. The list includes new emoticons, sprays, chat weels, and more.
Conclusion
Overall, the Dota 2 Frostivus 2023 update brought a breath of fresh air to the game because the last meta was around for a long time. We can’t wait to see what 2024 has in stock for us, so make sure to follow us for more information.
